Take-up mechanism for knitting machines



May 16, 1939. J, A. FIRSCHING TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINESFiled Au .-24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l M W a a 3 v 3 2 2 13,312 m 4 i 5 oa/ 1 2 a1 w. g I 2 U: 2%? wm o 0 z m l Wlw W #0 MW i M 1 mm .1 m w M l n.H j 5 6. W. T F PHI 1 i 1 v I L m. 5. w W 12 5 l a, m ,r a z m mzwmmwmmMay 16, 1939. J"A, FIRSCHING UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES TAKE-Filed Aug. 24, 1937 6 w M 70 5 5 l z 2 i M M U 1 NM 2 5 6 M 4 l 5 4 3 W]M M M O l 55 6 H V V 1 7O 8 Patented May 16, 1939 UN E D S 'FA E EiTAKEJIF MEGHANISM: KNITTING MACHINES 2 Claims.

my invention: relates 'toza: take-upzmechanism f orknitting-:machines-sand Ldeclarewthe:folltiwing" to be a full; clear;.concise andexact: description thereof suffi'cient: to: enable anyone":skilled? inzthe 5 art to which it appertai'nssto: make: and usethe same,referencei-beingzhact to the:accompanying drawings in which likereference: characters" re fer to like parts throughouttherspecification:

The object of ithezinvention isztea providera takeup mechanism for;knitting" machines that will.

causera "tension on. the knittedlia'bric' as5it= rotateswiththeneedless. Heretofore, there have been take -up mechanisms 'forknittingzmachines that would operates'on a knittingzmachine'where the:needles and .fabri'cfmade? thereby? were station.-

ary and hence the takeeupi-mechanismrwas built' staticnaryf'on: theemachine;v whereas in the'spres ent instance theyta-ke up mechanismrotateswith:

the needles: andfabric;

the drawings .in which:

Fig; 1 is an-elevationalsview1 of" a knitting mas chine shewing. thenovel 1 takea-upsdeviceeattacltied:-

thereto.

Fig. 2 is a:detail View showinga perspective of. thetake-'upzmechanismand' the related parts of the knitting" machine; partsof" which are cut away, parts'b'ein'g in section:-

Fig: 3 isad'etailiviewenlarged; partsbeingr Referring morepal'tlC111MIYTtOTthEidI'BJWiTIgST-thfi:3 parts of the knittingmachinewhicharei related.-

to the take-up mechanism: embody; a frame: I" 40 having legs 2. Frame:Isupports:mastershaftzllc on which is mounted to turntherewithmasterpulley t. A bearing bracketxfi also aids: in sup porting shaft 3 and isformediintegralsor otherwise secured to one of the twovupright plates.

45 S, 6 which hold the. upper annular ring. plateabove lower ring 8. Ahand'wheelhiisiastened.

turn with shaft 3, whereby to-zallow for turn-.

ing said shaft 3:by; handif desired;v Ai beveled. gear H! is keyed orotherwise fastened. torturnt:

50 with shaft 3 and meshes. with the annulargear rack 55 formed integralwith'the rotaryannular' gear ring l2.

In order to balance hand wheel- 9; a second? hand wheel [5 is disposeddiametrically oppnsite- 55 and carried to. turn witha-short-shaft 16like wisezz: mountecli in bearings? in the: other: upright 6-.Similarly;azheveligeariwheel I1 is keyed or otherwise meuntedftoaturn'iwithishait IG and is immeshawi-thzsaidiannulargeamrack I Is;

Gear: rack; M lS: formed' integral with rotary- 5s geainring;l2tfasiabovei'stated'; Said gear ringr I 2,howevergzismeuntedtt'drotatesin an annular bear ingslB madein; annularrimi I95. The: inner part ofi gearrringr l2ris2sh'ouldered at-ZOfi't'osupport needleepl'atea 2| made=inusections; Needle plates 102' 2.1arezboltediatinito:geanrirrg [2. Another plate ZZ-ltlsamennted abovegearrring.v I12. which is statitma'ryvhowever; whereas-' gear ring: I2?rotates therebeneathi. Bolts.ifastentplate fi torim I9whichaisr:shouldered? at: 25'. for thedisp'osition 1 of the peripheralLedge .of plates;

An annular ring member fii'issbolter at to platee23 a'd'jaceht. itsinnersperipheral'edge. Furthermnne: an annular? shaped"? member 26'isbolte'dzzat2l rtoi'ringzmember 25 Both ringlmemw her: 251 andlashapedsmember 2$Laremadein= sectionss There=iSarroverhangingtedge'28formed LL" shaped lmember 262 Beneath edge 28- and" between the:contiguousfsurfa'ces ofi member' 26 rirrgzzflil' and needle plate 21.:arewdisposedi the upper and lower needle-cams fll' and: 31 respec--ti'vely; whicli'a'ctuate theineedles 32% in the process ofrknittmgzzTheiya'rn 33:.issuppliedc-fromacones 3'4 disposed omanaoverhangingssrack.35 to :a combined sinker arrdscas't' oil? wheelii 36; more particularlyd'escribedrinra' coependin'g applicationzfiledfiJmy 13, 1931,-SenialIENtie153;-385.u Wheel 36 is mounted" to rockmvi'th plateri-Llwhich; is pivotall y supported to longitu dinallyvmovableemember?38':Member 38 is rigidlyr fixedxto shaftfifirhaving ax-spring: pressedbearing: in: journal 40- formed' integral or otherwise secured to shelf4|. ShelfiM-ds made integral w-ith annulanL shaped member26-. AhandlelL-isufixed t0. move:shaftl ll;v There". is also an- 49*.adjustingscrewfl. to. hold-handle 4.2. in a-predetermineddistance fromjournal and .a locking. pin to. holdfh'andle 42"wherr pulled out as moreparticularly described in the aforesaid applica-. tion; 7 The a noveltakeeup' mechanism contemplates a take=up frame 50"whichispiVotallYsupported on theunder-sideof annular rotary ring plate Ill.To this-end a*-paii'-=ofbracket armsiz, 52 having their ends bentatrightanglesat 53; 53 are-bolted 50? at '54t 5! to the: undr surfaceofring'plate I ll andhspaced apart. The lower ends of the bracket armsS-ZZ5-2 are equipped with bearing bushings 555.5 :rfer supporting ashaftifi. Shaft 56 extend beyond: branketiarms 52;:52: Bearingbush- 551 ings51, 51 of connecting bars 58, 58 are mounted on the extended parts ofshaft 56, whereby to turn thereon. The opposite end of each of the bars58, 53 is made with a bearing bushing 59 and clamp 6|, whereby said bars53, 58 are firmly held to shaft 60.

Moreover, the extreme ends of shaft 60 are held in the clamping parts62, 62 of the side plates 69, 63 of frame 50. Plates 63, 63 are disposedin spaced parallel relation to each other and tied together at one endby shaft 65 which is carried in bearing bushings 66 formed integral withshort shafts 61, 61 that in turn are made integral with plates 68.Plates 68 are bolted at 69, 69 to the ends of plates 63, 63.

The means for allowing the rocking of shaft 65 and, therefore, the takeup frame 50 embodies a bell crank lever 10 which is fulcrumed on pivot1! carried in bearings in depending hangers 12, 12 made integral withbracket 13. Crank lever 15 has one end connected by link 14 to shaft 85.Link 14 is bent at right angles at 15, projected through an aperture inthe end crank lever 19 and tied with a cotter pin 16. The opposite endof link 14 is threaded to bushing 11 having a sleeve part 18 throughwhich shaft 65 is pro jected and held. An adjustable weight has asliding fit with the other end of lever 10. It is held in predeterminedposition by set screw BI. An eye bolt 82 engages shaft 65. The free end83 of eye bolt 82 is projected upwards through a loose aperture inhorizontal extending finger 84 of bracket 13. A nut is mounted to theupper free screw threaded end 83 of eye bolt 82 which acts as anadjustment to limit the maximum downward rocking motion of take up frame50 on shaft 56 as a fulcrum.

The means for engaging the knitted fabric 95, whereby to exert a pull ortake up embodies two fluted rollers 9|, 92 which are disposed inparallel relation to each other and in contact, whereby the fabricpassing therebetween will be pulled downward as the rollers 9I, 92rotate in opposite directions. Said rollers 9|, 92 are mounted to turnon shafts 93, 94 which have bearings in side plates 63, 63 of frame 50.

The means for rotating fluted rollers 9|, 92 in opposite directionscontemplates spur gears 95, 96 which are in mesh with each other andmounted to turn with said shafts 93, 94 respectively. Said gears 95, 96are disposed on the outside of side plate 63. Furthermore, a worm gear91 is mounted to turn with said shaft 94 and disposed on the outside ofthe other plate 63. Worm gear 91 is in mesh with a worm 98 having itstrunnions or axle 99 mounted to rotate in bearings I 00, I00 formedintegral with upstanding part IOI of side plate 63.

Axle 99 is extended beyond adjacent bearing I00. A bevel gear I02 isfixed to turn therewith. Gear I02 is in mesh with a cooperating bevelgear I63 mounted to turn with shaft I04 which has a bearing in bushingI03 formed integral with side plate 63. A grooved pulley I05 is carriedto turn on the opposite end of shaft I04. It is connected by a belt I06with a power pulley I01. Pulley I01 is mounted to turn on a shaft I98having a bearing in bushing I09 made integral with standard IIO that isbolted to the upper surface of annular ring plate III. A bevel gear H2is fixed to turn with shaft I08 and meshes with the annular gear rack II3 formed integral with stationary annular ring plate 5|, whereby saidbevel gear I I 2 will have a planetary action as it rotates on its ownaxis and travels in a circle around gear rack I I3.

The planetary motion of bevel gear II 2 will cause pulley I01 to rotateas it travels around with bevel gear I I2 and hence turn the gearmechanism heretofore mentioned, to rotate take up cylinders or flutedrollers 9I and 92 when frame 50 is rocked downward to a given degree.

Annular ring plate III is mounted to slide on plate 5I. The means forrotating said annular ring plate III contemplates tying said plate IIIto rotating gear ring I2 thereabove. To this end upright posts I I5, II5 disposed at diametrically opposite locations are, in each instance,slightly tapered at their upper ends and engage correspondingly formedapertures in gear ring I2 with a tight fit. The lower ends of each ofsaid posts II5 project through an aperture in rotary plate III, nutsII6, II 6 are mounted to the threaded projecting ends to aid in holdingplate I II thereto.

The means for winding the knitted fabric 90 embodies a rectangularshaped member I20 fixed to turn with shaft I2I having bearings independing brackets I 22, I 22 disposed diametrically opposite each otherand bolted at I23, I 23 to the under side of annular rotating plate III,whereby to rotate therewith.

The means for rotating member I20 axially contemplates a ratchet I25mounted on shaft I2I and fixed to turn therewith. Ratchet I25 is engagedby a pawl I26 which is actuated intermittently by member I21. Member I21is mounted on shaft I2I and rocked thereon by a pitman rod I20.Furthermore, member I21 has two arms I 29 and I30 extending in oppositedirections. Pawl I26 is pivoted on pintle I 3I supported in the free endof arm I29, whereas arm I30 has an elongated slot I32 for receivingadjustable bolt I33 which extends therethrough and into a threadedaperture made in link I34. A washer I35 is carried on said bolt I33. Thelower end of pitman rod I28 is projected through and has a sliding fitin an operture in the top horizontal part I36 of link I34. A nut I31 isscrew threaded to pitman rod I28 below horizontal part I36 of memberI34. A coiled spring I38 is disposed about pitman rod I28 and held undertension between the upper surface I36 of link I34 and adjustable collarI39 secured in place by a set screw I39, whereby to urge link I34normally downwardly.

Pitman rod I28 is bent at an angle at I40 to clear the inner edge ofplate III. A strap member I M is threaded to the upper end of pitman I28 and engages crank shaft I42. Shaft I42 is carried in a loose bearingin bushing I43 formed integral with upstanding bracket I44 that isbolted at I45, I45 to rotating annular plate III. A bevel gear I46 ismounted to turn with shaft I42 and meshes with the teeth of annular gearrack II3 which is mounted on the stationary annular ring plate 5! asabove described.

Bevel gear I46 has a planetary motion around stationary gear rack H3 asit travels with rotating plate III. Revolving on its own axis will causea vertical reciprocating motion of pitman I28 which will in turn rockmember I21 and hence cause pawl I26 to rotate intermittently or tooth bytooth ratchet wheel I 25.

Ratchet wheel I25 is prevented from turning in the opposite direction bypawl I50 pivoted on shaft I5I having a tight fit in a bearing made inthe lower depending part I52 of member I 22. The weight of free end I53of pawl I 50 holds the tooth I55 of pawl in engagement with ratchet I25.

When in operation, the knitted fabric 90 is lead down from needles 32 intubular form within the enclosure formed by the needle holding member 2|and fed between fluted take up rollers 9| and 92 and on down to wind upmember I20. Wind up roller I20 and take up mechanism com prising amongother things rollers 9| and 92 will move around in a circle with needles32. As the fabric 90 increases in length and being caught and heldbetween fluted rollers 9| and 92 their weight and the weight of take upframe 50 and connected parts which is fulcrumed to rock on shaft 56 willexert a pull which is predetermined by the position of adjustable weight80 on bell crank lever I0. The maximum rock motion however, will begoverned by eye bolt 82. When said frame 50 has rocked down into dottedline position illustrated in Fig. 2, belt I08 connecting grooved pulleysI05 and I! will be drawn sufficiently tight, whereby it will no longerslip over said pulleys I and IN but on the other hand frictionallyengage them to the degree that lower pulley I05 will turn with upperpulley I01. This will cause bevel gears I03, I02, worm 98, worm gear 91and. gears 96 and 95 to revolve, whereby take up rollers 9| and 92 willbe revolved in opposite directions to feed fabric 90 therebelow ontorectangular rotating member I20. Rollers 9| and 92 will continue to turnuntil the surplus slack has been taken up or fed therebetween and belowto member I when the tightness of knitted fabric 90 will again causetake up mechanism to be rocked back to" initial or full line positionillustrated in Fig. 2. In this latter position, belt I06 will slip againover the contiguous surfaces of pulleys I05 and I01, whereupon rollers9| and 92 will become and remain idle until sufficient slack againoccurs in knitted fabric 90 to allow frame 50 to rock down into dottedline position illustrated in Fig. 2 whereby to increase the tension onbelt I06 to the actuating degree as above stated.

Although winding roll I20 has a continuous intermittent motion and takeup rollers 9|, 92 are stationary during certain periods, the take uprollers 9|, 92 are moving downward with the rock fame 50 during thisstationary period and will thereby feed the fabric downward during thestationary period of the rollers, wherby there is a continuous downwardmotion of the fabric which compensates for the stationary period ofrollers 9|, 92 to prevent excessive tension upon fabric 90 betweenwinding roll I20 and take up rollers 9|, 92. Furthermore, adjustablebolt I33 can be moved along arm I within the limits of slot I32 theretoto synchronize the turning of roll I20 with the feed of the fabric as itcomes from between rollers 9|, 92. Furthermore, spring I38 on pitman rodI28 will allow for a predetermined amount of yield to prevent excessivetension on fabric 90 between winding roll I20 and take up rollers 9|,92.

Simultaneously with this periodic rotation of rollers 9| and 92 to takeup the slack in knitted fabric 90, rectangular shaped member I20 will berotated intermittently by pawl I26 which is rocked back and forth bymember I21. Member I2'I in turn is rocked alternately in clockwise andcounterclockwise direction by the vertically reciprocating pitman rodI28 which is connected to the eccentric shaft I42. Shaft I42 is rotatedby bevel gear I46 which is turned axially as said gear I40 moves aroundon annular gear rack I I3.

Moreover, simultaneously with the above mentioned rocking motion of takeup mechanism frame 50 and the intermittent rotation of wind up memberI20, both these aforementioned parts will revolve with needles 32 andfabric 90 because of the engagement of plate III with the revolving gearring I2, whereas gear ring I2 is made to revolve through master pulley 4bevel gear I0 and gear rack II as above stated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a take up mechanism for knitting machines, a rotary gear ring forcarrying needles for knitting a fabric, another ring connected to saidfirst named gear ring, a rock frame connected with said second namedring, rollers supported in said rock frame for engaging the knittedfabric, a lever mounted in said knitting machine, a link connecting saidlever with said rock frame, a weight mounted on said lever for governingthe amount of tension of said rock frame on said fabric, and gear meansconnected with said knitting machine, whereby to rotate said take uprollers, a rectangular member for winding said knitted fabric afterpassing below said take up rollers, a gear mounted on said second namedring, a crank shaft mounted toturn with said last named gear, a ratchetwheel mounted to turn with said rectangular shaped member, a pawlengaging said ratchet wheel, a rock member carrying said pawl and a rodconnecting said last named rock member with said crank shaft, whereby torotate said rectangular shaped member intermittently.

In a take up mechanism for knitting machines, a rotary gear ring forcarrying needles, whereby to knit a fabric, a ring plate connected toturn with said rotary gear ring by posts, a rock frame connected withsaid ring plate by means of rock bars, rollers carried in said rockframe for engaging the knitted fabric, means for controlling the rockingof said frame, gears connected with said rollers, a pulley connectedwith said gears, another pulley mounted on said rotary ring plate, agear connected to turn with said last named pulley and mounted on saidrotary ring plate, a stationary gear ring meshing with said last namedgear, whereby to turn said gear and pulley, a belt connecting saidpulleys, a roll for winding the fabric thereon and means connected withsaid last named gear ring for actuating said wind up rollintermittently.

JOSEPH A. FIRSCHING.

